Reader's concept prompts question: what would your ideal camera be?

What does your dream camera look like? One of our more enterprising readers has sketched-out what his would look like - creating an interesting contemporary rangefinder concept. Bristling with Nikon F4-inspired manual controls, each dial and switch also has a 'neutral' position to allow the on-screen interface settings to take precedence. Easycass acknowledges the concept may not be entirely possible - an 'ultra-fast' 24-105mm lens would dictate a fairly small sensor, and autofocus rangefinders have never exactly been commonplace - but it raises questions the question: 'What would your perfect camera be?'

With mirrorless and large-sensor compacts still going through a growth spurt, what would you like to see? What controls would you demand and what balance of size, price, sensor size and lens specs would you like to see. Let us know in the comments, below and try to be plausible (a realistic price is usually more than you want to pay for it).

If the comments section doesn't give you the space to express your ideas, consider doing what Easycass has done - create your own article.

Comments

Full Frame, great ISO performance (+low light shooting ability), high IQ level of detail capture, smallest/lightest body possible (auto-focus not essential), not fancy looking/subtle. Comfortable to use and durable for jamming into a cargo pocket without a case. Prime or Zoom lens, preferably interchange-able. 3 easy to access/comfortable/re-configurable control dials for simultaneous ISO, Shutter and Aperature control (the aperature can be on the lens or body, don't care).

Basically I've put a lot of consideration into systems like Micro 4/3rd's but I do not want to go back to APS-C/crop style sensors after experiencing Full-Frame. That said, I'd be taking many more pictures with a high-quality, pocket-able camera than am I am now, as unless I'm planning a day of DSLR shooting, I basically always leave the camera at home.

Lieca comes closest but still too big and price out of my league. Not sure if smaller FF is possible, but I suspect there is a little room with a new system??

Auto lenscapped, 24mm - 240mm x10 compact with mechanical manual zoom possibility and possibility to attach lens filter so it can be left on place even when lens contracted. (enough space below the autolens cap). Aperture should start at 1.8 or wider and should not be smaller than 2.8 at the long end(if possible considering it should be compact). 2/3" sensor or bigger if possible to keep it compact. 1080p/i with at CBR at least 45Mb/s with manual focus possibility. Tilting toutch screen, two customizable buttons strategically positioned and one customizable dial beside the normal PASM mode dial button. GRIP, even a little one. Opensource GUI so the community could improve it when the manufacturer gets too lazy after he new upgraded model. tripod screw near the lens middle point, embedded hotshoe with accessory port for flash or EVF. BAttery large enough for 600 CIPA rated shots. Ergonomic designed so that it can be operated with one hand if in hurry to take picture. Pricepoint at ~600$

For travel, my ideal would be a modern version of The Canon Powershot Pro 1 with APS-C sensor (about 16 MP) and 24-200 zoom, preferably around the f2.4 max of the original. With latest technology it would be a bit larger but should be worth it for the usability and quality.

My ideal camera would accept Nikon F MOUNT lenses, have a FULLY MANUAL RANGEFINDER (or electronic equivalent) that would allow FULL USE OF MANUAL LENSES; have the resolution of a D800E with the ability to select smaller file sizes and faster frame rates if needed, and have a PC socket.

Selectable choice of optimum high ISO or high HDR depending upon the circumstances. Full auto availability. F3HP TYPE VIEWFINDER for use with glasses, interchangeable viewfinders as an option.

Weight of a D600 or lighter. Size of an F3 or smaller. I would like to minimize controls to basic speed, aperture, ISO, histogram, M or AF, without all the sub-menu clutter (more like the Leica).

My ideal camera would have to be something small like a Oly PEN but with a large sensor (at least APS-C), lots of MP, traditional controls and of course a viewfinder. The lenses should be small, maybe by being collapsible. It should fit into a jackets pocket. A shift-lens is crucial. The body should be weather sealed and an ergonomic handgrip be available as an ad on. Changing lenses should be made easier maybe by a motorized locking mechanism.

My ideal camera would have a fully manual rangefinder (or electronic equivalent) that would allow full use of manual lenses; the resolution of a D800E with the ability to select smaller file sizes and faster frame rates if needed. Selectable choice of optimum high ISO or high HDR depending upon the circumstances. Full auto override. F3HP viewfinder for use with glasses. Interchangeable viewfinders as an option. Weight of a D600 or lighter. Size of an F3 or smaller.

For me personally, I don't think there is "one" ideal camera for me. One day I want a go anywhere, don't care if I drop it fun camera. The next day I want to shoot my daughter at gymnastics so I need something with a fast lens and acceptable high iso. The next day I want to play with old manual focus lenses. The next I want to do some off-camera flash.

Maybe its not just one camera, but how to make a line of cameras that have a bunch of interchangeable accessories.

And let's say there is a GPS or WiFi adapter or remote shutter release dongle or wireless flash trigger, etc, it would be nice if it worked across the board.

So . . . not so much one camera, but a system with lots and lots of interchangeable accessories. With an ultra affordable entry point.

The ultimate camera is one that is essentially only a sturdy, well-built frame that can house interchangeable lenses, sensors, batteries, memory media readers and pc connection devices.

Ideally something that has a standardized design than can be upgraded in modules. Something similar does exist but it's far from being within a reasonable price point (I think it's a type of High Definition Camcorder).

I would really like to see a camera that can split it's resolution to become Full Frame or APS-C or M4/3, So maybe you shoot at 30MP M4/3, 18.7 MP APS-C and 15MP FF. The design would allow for various lenses and it would have to be mirror-less or the mirror would have to allow for the different types of lenses.

There are many times when I would gladly cut my resolution in half for a wider DOF and better low-light noise. Of course I don't know if that's logistically a sound idea, I just like the concept of an "all-in-one" camera.

My dream camera will be the Sony NEX6 but with a built in 5 stop sensor shift like the olympus's. plus with a FF sensor and with a M mount! and with CCD quality like Nikon D600. and with Wi-fi controllable via smartphone function. Wifi function can also control wi-fi remote flash system.

My Oly XZ1 is conceptually very near to what I need form a compact camera. Just add AE-L, a dedicated fisheye, a foldable sport viewfinder and a sensible AutoISO mode.For everything else small DSLRs are already perfect for me.

the perfect combination should have- minimum noise at iso 6400- pixels don't have to be above 16m- ability to crop within camera- touchscreen, but only for focus, not menus- rotary dials for selections of aperture, speed, iso- weather sealed body- standard batteries- detachable flash- Open Operating System or at least an available API to it.- movement detection (for now available only in chdk as far as i know)- Hdr (all the more include it)- full intervalometer (easy applied, its only software, but rare)- mutliflashing (that is itervalometer for the flash, rather easy also, only software. I know, heat, batteries, but software can set limits)- Looong exposure times, just as the old film days, at least 5min. (for most the 1 min is only a few lines of code is their OS, but...)

My ideal camera is something like the D800/EOS 5D with a sensor that tilts inside the camera body in both the vertical and horizontal axes. This would offer view-camera adjustments to focus that essentially make any lens into a tilt lens. Since these cameras have large numbers of AF sensors, it should even be possible for the camera to adjust the tilt itself for optimum depth of field in the scene. Build it and every landscape photographer will buy one.

My ideal camera wouldn't be something very utopic. It could be a "Pro" version of the sony NEX-7 (NEX-P?), with more traditional, dedicated controls, and a whole bunch of brighter and compact (f/1.4) prime lenses (Leica M-style), as well as 28-70 and 70-200 (equiv.) f/2.8 zooms.

my ideal cam is something like the sony dsc s60/90 but smarter + features of samsung ES-15* works on ordinary batteries*interchangeable lens*of course, light*works with SD card, not the SONY ones*of course also with carl zeiss lens, not the sony ones*with view finder, but not as small as sony ones, i like the optic view finder of Cannon G10*with ergonomics of olympus OM-D*great ISO sensitivity and dynamic range sensor like nikon (sony)

am i asking too much for a small package?*i like to have it with a sleek and oldies look design of leica.*please use aluminum alloy or magnesium, or titanium body, weather sealed like olympus.*plus multi interface lens mount and scoping*plus in-camera editing tools like nikon, please add more like OM-D*and i want file names of photo to be like what nokia does...YYYYMMDDhhmmss.jpg as option to name files with*high flash synch speed*no curtain please

My ideal digital camera would be a digital version of the Rollei 35. Small, great lens, full size sensor.I would also like to see some kind of modularity, where the electronic components could be upgraded while retaining the mechanical components.

I see a trend that i like. MFT or NEX's trend. Which is: the modular camera.In specific: i buy a body without anything else.Do i need a lens, a viewfinder, a flash, some software (or even a new OS), maybe a new sensor? why not? i am not stuck with anything. I can add/remove/change.

On the other hand, the features that i would like to see more progress are:- Open Operating System (Android?)- More Dynamic Range. Technology MUST reach the human's eye extent someday.

Technology already exceeded the human eye. You have an impression of a greater capability of the eye because it moves and adjusts at you gaze at different parts of the view. You can do the same with a video camera, but with a still photo you are frozen in time. HDR is an still approximation of the dynamic eye reaction.

I'd like to see a 4x5 digital. Wilth a bellows or telescoping lens so that when not in use it folds up into a small case. Even the folded light path idea of the old Polaroid cameras would be good. It should fold up into a box just a bit more than 4x5 then unfold into something amazing. Failing that, simply a 5x4 back that fits on ordinary large format cameras. I wouldn't like to see huge MP. 36 MP would be plenty. Big photosites for clean images.

My ultimate camera would be able to perform 'multi-spectral' imaging where a single shot (or series of sequential shots) would be recorded in the complete light spectrum from infrared through to near UV. From this palette, (obviously greater than the typical 16m digital 24-bit digital colors) in-camera SW would take your preferences and produce an HDR-like multispectral image, or if you prefer, a 48-bit RAW file. Bayer filters obviously are not designed for this so some sort of advance in filter technology or a moving-mask filter would be needed.

Imagine taking a photo combining the full spectrum into post-processing, the possibilities would be truly endless.

No camera has everything one person wants. We each want something different. My ideal would be having a different marketing/manufacturing strategy where we pre-order a camera: we choose from a selection of general specs. Then the camera is custom built. Similar to what Dell does with computers. The cost would probably scare me though.

Why do most people only consider variations of what is currently available? My ideal camera will probably never exist, but here goes.- resolution, forget megapixel and think gigapixel- sensitivity, cope with everything from a small star in the night sky to brighter than directly looking into the Sun at the same time- focus range, less than 1cm to infinity (and beyond)- depth of field, everything in focus but can be adjusted later (take the Lytro and extrapolate)- zoom range, who needs to zoom when you just select an area you want to enlarge (take the Nokia 808 and extrapolate)- noise, there won't be any- shutter speed, everything from rdiculously fast to wake me up when it's done- size, small enough to fit in your pocket, solar powered of course

This question surely provoked a lot of answers. Now, what are the chances that some manufacturer actually reads all this and then tries to make what people actually want and/or need?It is my experience that when you compose an understandable, reasonable and relatively simple suggestion based upon your needs and send it to the manufacturer (and not only one), all you can expect is a robot answer from Miss Noreply that your "message was received". And then, "the rest is silence"...I guess we'll just go on plugging with whatever their designers decide to dish out, and devil take what you need. In the same time, you can't simply just buy the features you need (like "program" "modes" that you will actually use) - you will have to go on paying for ridiculous things you'll probably never even try to look at.

I am interested in a street camera that would have good resolution, can take spontaneous shots quickly, and range in natural or artificial lighting that would not look expensive. We have had problems with our DSLR's and expensive lenses attached. I used a sturdy unipole, which evens things out a bit. Any suggestions?

I have a Canon Powershot D10 that works well but looks like a toy, meaning that no-one sees it as either expensive or capable of serious work. I use it mainly underwater since I'm not interested in street shots, but can well imagine it being used for street photography. Perhaps you'd care to take a look.

I'm sure there are as many "perfect" camera designs as there are photographers. I think that looking for the perfect camera is a waste of time so I find one that suits me best and then adapt to it's shortcomings. When I bought my A65 I hated the location of the video button as I kept hitting it accidentally. After a bit I adjusted to it and haven't accidentally hit the button in months. Now that I don't need it Sony issued a firmware update allowing me to disable the button.

I'm still waiting for that dream digicam, everybody is trying to define here. It must be out of its league, as the RX1, RX100 and X10 were, BUT better. Meaning almost the size of the RX100, BUT with a better overall concept from the X10, the X20? 1. Best IQ possible, WITH 2. A general overall smaller size.3. A 24-120 mm, f 1.8 ~ 2.4 fixed zoom lens,4. An even bigger sensor (like RX100),5. A full information electronic? viewfinder, 6. A wider shutter speed range (both ways), 7. A better resolution LCD,8. Better overall control with better use of knobs (why not?), 9. A more usable interface menu like XPro1, etc. 10. Include a std UV filter and regular carrying case (avoid the mandatory optionals),

Before telling you my "must haves" let me preface this by saying I am a photographer, art photographer and taught college-level photography for 23 years. Also, as I've aged, my back is simply not what it used to be. My last film camera was a Pentax 6x7, the grand daddy of SLRs and heavy as they come. I started to not enjoy taking photographs and that was a critical line I crossed. I didn't like that feeling. Okay, with that in mind, here are my "requirements" for my perfect camera:

1. Lightweight (must fit in my backpack but not take up my entire backpack). I want a camera that is as unobtrusive as possible. 2. Huge sensor for the best quality images I can get. I like to print BIG.3. Low noise at high ISOs.4. Widest aperture I can get for low light situations. f1.4 anyone? LOL5. Quick AF and quick burst. 6. Usable viewfinder for brightly lighted situations7. Adjustable electronic screen8. Easy to access controls

Limitations of technology and physics dictate that compromise is necessary; anyone's "perfect" camera will be a reflection of what factors are most important to them. For me, portability and convenience are key, but I also want full manual control, reasonable photographic versatility, and excellent IQ. My Sony RX100 is very nearly perfect, for me, as it is. If I were able to do so, however, without compromising much on size, I'd add the following: full weather sealing, a usable VF (wouldn't have to be great--just usable), a couple more externally-accessible manual controls, slightly faster lens, and perhaps an even larger sensor. Price it at <$1,000 and I'll buy it immediately.